Germany's future: New modernization plan for digital citizen services!

Germany's future: New modernization plan for digital citizen services!

On October 23, 2025, the Federal Cabinet approved a comprehensive modernization agenda that aims to significantly improve Germany's future viability. This agenda includes various measures aimed at reducing bureaucracy, promoting digitalization and strengthening citizen proximity. Federal Cabinet and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has emphasized that Germany must be brought back to the top when it comes to competitiveness and state modernization. A central element of these plans is to reduce bureaucratic costs by 25 percent, which would result in savings of around 16 billion euros.

Kai Wegner was elected chairman of the newly established Federal Council Committee for Digitalization and State Modernization. Wegner emphasized the need for Germany to become faster, more efficient and more digital. This is also reflected in the planned measures, which, in addition to the construction turbo, also include nationwide digital services and faster procedures.

The key points of the modernization agenda

The modernization agenda includes around 80 measures that are intended to benefit both companies and public services. The most important elements include:

• Ein zentrales Online-Angebot für die Kfz-Zulassung.
• Ein digitales Bürgerportal zur Meldung überflüssiger Bürokratie.
• Schulungen und KI-Tools für Ministeriumsmitarbeiter zur Erstellung praxistauglicherer Gesetzestexte.
• Nahtlose digitale Erstellung von Handelsregisternummern sowie Sozialversicherungsanmeldungen.
• KI-gestützte Verfahren zur automatisierten Dokumentenprüfung in Visumverfahren.

Berlin is also a pioneer in digital transformation and already offers more than 400 digital services. Wegner plans to actively shape Germany's digital future together with other federal states.

Digital ministry and infrastructure investments

With the establishment of a separate Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization in 2025, a clear step towards increased digital transformation was taken. Merz announced that he would provide resources for infrastructure and climate protection in order to promote the country's competitiveness. In order to improve the hydrogen infrastructure, a draft law was introduced to simplify and digitalize approval processes in the hydrogen supply chain.

Critics from unions express concerns that across-the-board job cuts could weaken the public service and emphasize the need to advance modernization in collaboration with employees. Experts are skeptical about the speed of implementation and the promised savings and are calling for more investment in the quality of administrative processes.

Overall, the federal government's modernization agenda is seen as a comprehensive attempt to future-proof the public sector and tap innovation potential. It remains to be seen how quickly and sustainably the planned measures can be implemented.

For more details you can view the press release here, the Tagesschau report here and the article from ZDF here read up.